According To This Jim: Top Songs of 1978

In this series we have been looking at the top 100 songs from 1978. Songs 100-91 can be found here, songs 90-81 here, songs 80-71 here, songs 70-61 here, songs 60-51 here, songs 50-41 can be found here and songs 40-31 can be found here. In this post we will look at songs 30-21.

This group of ten songs reminds me of what was right and what was wrong with music in the 70s. There are a few good songs on this list, and a clunker or two, but mostly they are just meh. On the other hand, there is once again a diversity of styles in the list. Disco, classic rock, pop rock, and then there is Barry Manilow and Meat Loaf. I am just never sure how to categorize either one. The list looks like this:

30. Two Out of Three Ain't Bad, Meat Loaf
29. Dance With Me, Peter Brown
28. Too Much, Too Little, Too Late, Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams
27. Can't Smile Without You, Barry Manilow
26. Baker Street, Gerry Rafferty
25. We Are the Champions / We Will Rock You, Queen
24. It's a Heartache, Bonnie Tyler
23. Love Is Like Oxygen, The Sweet
22. Hot Child In the City, Nick Gilder
21. Feels So Good, Chuck Mangione

30. Two Out of Three Ain't Bad, Meat Loaf - I am not going to lie, I like Meat Loaf. I guess I would call his style theatrical rock or operatic rock. Whatever you want to call his style, it is always entertaining. The lyrics to his songs on the Bat Out of Hell album were written by Jim Steinman and they are catchy and often ironic, like those in this song. I have the Bat Out of Hell CD and usually play it when I am on a road trip. Crank it up and let it rip, there is not a bad song on the album.

29. Dance With Me, Peter Brown - Not a bad song, just not my favorite.

28. Too Much, Too Little, Too Late, Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams - I really never paid much attention to this song when it came out, although, there is no doubt these two are great talents. When I listened to it for this post, I realized what the songs was about...two empty nesters coming to terms with the fact that their marriage is over. Because of my age and experience I can appreciate the song better now.

27. Can't Smile Without You, Barry Manilow - Barry Manilow, love him or hate him, the guy is a talent. Maybe his songs aren't that deep, like this one, but they are catchy! You won't find a Barry Manilow song on my ipod, but I will admit that I recently attended one of his concerts with my friend Deanna, and yeah...I stood with the crowd and sang this song. So...sue me!